Hitting the primordial nail on the head -> "Electoral democracy, as practiced in the West, is increasingly a theatre. Citizens are reduced to consumers of political marketing, manipulated by media and corporate interests. Democracy has become an empty ritual of elections without real choice. The political parties have turned into business enterprises, using public funds for private gain and operating at the service of global capital." 🎯
Following the U.S., the two-party system became the standard Western democratic model in Europe as well. “Democracy” and the “two-party” (or bipolar) system are now nearly interchangeable terms. This system made sense, and somehow it worked, as long as there was a significant alternative between socialism and liberalism. Since the beginning of the millennium, that alternative has proven false. Initially, socialist leaders did not act differently from libertarians. Then, the Grand Coalitions became the norm. This happened several times in Germany with the Grosse Koalition, in Italy with the so-called technical government, and in France through repeated alliances of all political parties against the Rassemblement National. The result is that in Europe, there is neither a real alternative nor a parliamentary opposition. All governing parties and the (fake) opposition share the same international and domestic policies. They argue loudly over minor issues and ultimately agree on what is unacceptable. In Italy (one of the most institutionally serious countries in Europe), the Minister of Defense has been the president of the weapons industry and a provider to the very ministry he now chairs. It is a massive scandal that the opposition has consistently failed to address.
On the other hand, a fierce confrontation erupted that lasted for weeks over the Minister of Culture. He had an innocent love affair with a consultant and never paid for her services. But the opposition focused on this much more than on condemning the Gaza Holocaust. The Minister of Culture eventually resigned. Clearly, his behavior was not appropriate, but it is not comparable to the conflict of interest of the Minister of Defense and the critical decisions he makes while the opposition remains silent.
Absolutely on the point amongst millennials and genx-ers from Slovenia to Gevgelia. We are aging generations, and with us gone the true understanding of the loss Balkan endured at the end of 20th century will be possibly lost as well.
But the thing is - even as independent countries, Balkan states could have way better prospects IF (for once in our existence) we chose to learn from other, indisputably better systems.
Will we do anything of the sorts? No, I don't think so… or at least not for couple more generations. As Suzanne Collins wisely says about humans in the conclusion of her book "Mockinjay":
"… People are fickle, stupid beings with poor memories and a great gift for self-destruction…"
Hitting the primordial nail on the head -> "Electoral democracy, as practiced in the West, is increasingly a theatre. Citizens are reduced to consumers of political marketing, manipulated by media and corporate interests. Democracy has become an empty ritual of elections without real choice. The political parties have turned into business enterprises, using public funds for private gain and operating at the service of global capital." 🎯
Following the U.S., the two-party system became the standard Western democratic model in Europe as well. “Democracy” and the “two-party” (or bipolar) system are now nearly interchangeable terms. This system made sense, and somehow it worked, as long as there was a significant alternative between socialism and liberalism. Since the beginning of the millennium, that alternative has proven false. Initially, socialist leaders did not act differently from libertarians. Then, the Grand Coalitions became the norm. This happened several times in Germany with the Grosse Koalition, in Italy with the so-called technical government, and in France through repeated alliances of all political parties against the Rassemblement National. The result is that in Europe, there is neither a real alternative nor a parliamentary opposition. All governing parties and the (fake) opposition share the same international and domestic policies. They argue loudly over minor issues and ultimately agree on what is unacceptable. In Italy (one of the most institutionally serious countries in Europe), the Minister of Defense has been the president of the weapons industry and a provider to the very ministry he now chairs. It is a massive scandal that the opposition has consistently failed to address.
On the other hand, a fierce confrontation erupted that lasted for weeks over the Minister of Culture. He had an innocent love affair with a consultant and never paid for her services. But the opposition focused on this much more than on condemning the Gaza Holocaust. The Minister of Culture eventually resigned. Clearly, his behavior was not appropriate, but it is not comparable to the conflict of interest of the Minister of Defense and the critical decisions he makes while the opposition remains silent.
Absolutely on the point amongst millennials and genx-ers from Slovenia to Gevgelia. We are aging generations, and with us gone the true understanding of the loss Balkan endured at the end of 20th century will be possibly lost as well.
But the thing is - even as independent countries, Balkan states could have way better prospects IF (for once in our existence) we chose to learn from other, indisputably better systems.
Will we do anything of the sorts? No, I don't think so… or at least not for couple more generations. As Suzanne Collins wisely says about humans in the conclusion of her book "Mockinjay":
"… People are fickle, stupid beings with poor memories and a great gift for self-destruction…"